nickngreg | Ficlet: Story Four

Title: Story Four - A Box of Fun
Series: Boxes Series
Author: so8lue
Rating: PG
Category: Slash, Fluff (minor)
Pairing: Nick/Greg established relationship
Spoilers: no
Summary: Nick forgets. Greg doesn't.
Disclaimer: If I owned them, Nick would have his hair, Greg wouldn't be getting sued, and they would have no air time because they would be too busy gettin' bizzy.
Author’s Notes: I got a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. I started thinking about boxes and how many stories I can work around it. This series is dedicated to all box givers, recievers and lovers. Happy Valentine's Day guys.

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Trudging down the florescent lit hallway, Nick makes his way to the locker room. He was tired. Beyond tired, even. Three days of non-stop work; double shift blending into double shift until he couldn’t see straight, and for what? They caught the guy, but how many more are out there, right now, committing acts that he’s gonna have to clean up tomorrow?

Nick scoffs at his wandering mind. When did he become so cynical? He remembers when he looked forward to work: solve the puzzle, catch the bad guy, lay the troubled soul to rest.

Rubbing his sore neck, hoping to relieve some tension, Nick walks into the locker room and heads to his locker.

“Hey,” Warrick greets, buttoning up his dress shirt.

“Hey, man.” Nick reaches for his change of clothes. Food, then bed? Bed, then food?

“So, what are ya up to tonight?”

“What do you mean?” Nick asks.

“I mean, for Valentine’s Day.” Warrick tilts his head, noticing Nick’s blank look. “Come on, man. Don’t tell me you forgot what today is?” Watching as first surprise, and then horror cross Nick’s face, Warrick burst out laughing. “Oh, this is priceless. You’re a dead man.”

“Yeah, sure, you think it’s funny, but I am a dead man. I forgot. With work, and the extra shifts, and having to get this guy before he went after someone else…” Nick bangs his head against the open door. “Who am I kidding? Greg’s gonna kill me.”

“Relax man, he’s not gonna kill you.” Nick gives Warrick a pointed look. “Well, not much. Listen, just tell him what happened. He works here, he’ll understand. Hell, he probably even forgot what today is.”

Nick doubted it. Warrick might know about them, but he has no idea that Valentine’s Day was the day that Greg told Nick that he loved him. With a dozen roses, a dinner at Tromfilo’s – Nick’s all-time favorite restaurant – and a weekend at his family’s ranch, just the two of them. That Greg cried. Cried! Greg never cries. Valentine’s Day is everything to Greg, and Nick dropped the ball.

Nick bangs his head again, letting out a defeated sigh. There’s no excusing it. He forgot, he let Greg down, and he’s gonna have to own up to it. Nick wonders how late it was to get some flowers.

Watching as Nick beats himself up over something he couldn’t control, Warrick closes his locker. “Don’t worry about it, Nick. Greg’s gonna get it. He is. I see the way he looks at you, and I’m telling ya, he’s gonna be happy if just you show up.”

Nick looks at Warrick. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, man.” Warrick clasps Nick’s shoulder. “Although, I might suggest the ‘Clothing Optional’ approach.”

Groaning, Nick hides his face in his locker. Warrick leaves the room, chuckling to himself.

Allowing a minute to go by to make sure Warrick truly left, Nick finally removes his head from his locker. “Well, guess I’d better face the music.” Nick reaches in and takes out his gym bag. Something thumps to the floor. “What the…”

Bending down, Nick picks up a box. Of condoms. Cinnamon flavored.

Nick looks around, hoping no one was around to see what was in his hand, or how his face matches the box. He’d get ribbed for days.

“Bad choice of words,” he mumbles to himself. Nick peers into his locker, noticing an envelop. Opening it, he finds a card.

Nicky, don’t worry, I understand. Happy Valentine’s Day. I Love You. Greg. P.S. Don’t forget the box.

Smirking at his lover’s antics, Nick heads home.